Boeing Business Jet sets world speed record

24 September, 2012

SOURCE: Flight International

BY: Kate Sarsfield

-

Boeing Business Jets set a new world record on 16 September for "Speed Over a Recognised Course" when a BBJ flew non-stop from Los Angeles to Auckland for installation of its VIP interior. The BBJ made the 5,658nm (10,467km) trip in 13h 7min 54s, according to the official US aviation record keeper, the National Aeronautic Association.

Credit: Boeing

"When we left Los Angeles with full fuel, we were 9,534kg (21,000lb) below our maximum take-off weight," says BBJ captain and company president Steve Taylor. "This means that the customer can add a full VIP interior, fill all the seats and still carry full fuel and have remarkable range - something our competitor with the same class business jet simply cannot do nonstop," he adds.

The aircraft - owned by Samsung Electronics - had 3,540kg of fuel remaining when it landed in Auckland. It will undergo interior outfitting at Altitude Aerospace Interiors' completion facility. The project marks the first BBJ completion by the four-year-old Air New Zealand subsidiary.